Wired Performance

I benchmarked the router’s LAN-WAN performance with the iperf tool. The clients ran Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. The provider server was emulated by a Linux machine set up for remote access and routing. I measured the data-transfer rate on a PC connected to a router’s LAN port.

The TEW-691GR can deliver over 100 Mbps in direct connection and PPPoE modes, so its Gigabit Ethernet ports are useful indeed. The PPTP speed is lower at 16 to 20 Mbps. Considering the advanced hardware and that the L2TP speed is as high as 60 Mbps, this must be due to imperfect firmware. Hopefully, the manufacturer will improve the router’s PPTP performance in the next firmware update.

Wireless Performance

It may take you quite a while to find Wi-Fi parameters suitable for this pair of TrendNET devices. The main problem is that there is no way to explicitly specify and test the operation of two channels with a short guard interval, which is necessary for maximum performance. The maximum I could get was the number 405 for the connected client in the router’s web-interface. I had enabled 20/40 mode on both devices to achieve that. I couldn’t make it to 450 Mbps because the devices would choose a long guard interval then. Hopefully, the manufacturer will provide more control over the Wi-Fi module in the next firmware update. Besides the TEW-687GA, I also used an USB-adapter ASUS USB-N13 which is based on a Ralink chip as well, but works in 2T2R mode at a speed up to 300 Mbps. The tested devices were placed within a distance of 3 meters from each other. I measured the data-transfer rate on a PC connected to a router’s LAN port.

The results are rather surprising. The triple-channel adapter is greatly inferior to its simpler opponent. I’d really recommend TrendNET to revise their firmware for the TEW-687GA. Although its speed of 70-90 Mbps is good, the speed of 150 Mbps is much better. And this latter speed is delivered by a router with similar hardware components.